The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-03-03
NEWS OF THE WEEK.
Cleaned by Telegraph and Mail
CONGRESS.

II the Senate on the 21st Mr.. Mitchell
spoke vehemently of the conduct of Colonel
Parke, of the engineer corps, who had sus-
pended work on the cascades in the Columbia
river and offered resolution of inquiry. Mr..
Conger replied TO Mr.. Mitchell. The regular
order, the Ship Canal bill, was temporarily laid
aside and the River and Harbor bill further de-
bated and passed. The Ship Canal bill was
then passed and the Senate went into secret
session -. In the House the conference report
upon the bill repeating the Presumption and
Timber Culture acts was called up ana was the
subject OF long debate. The House adhered
10 its amendments and asked for a new confer
ence. The House then adjourned.
II the Senate on the 22d several commu-
nications were received from departments in
reply TO resolutions OF inquiry. The presiding
oficer, Senator Sherman, presented his resigna-
tion to take effect Saturday, February 26. The
District Of Columbia Appropriation bill and the
Military Academy Appropriation bill passed.
Mr.. Mcpherson attempted to have the resolu-
ton for investigating the Pacific railroads con-
sidered. but failed, and the bill to create the
Department of Agriculture was taken uD but
no action reached. The House amendments TO
the Sundry Civil bill were disagreed TO. Ad
journed - The House, in Committee OF the
Whole, considered the Senate amendments to
the Sundry Civil bill. A new conference was
asked. The Post-ofice Appropriation bill was
considered in Committee of the Whole, the only
disagreement between the two houses being
the subsidy clause. Pending debate the com
mittee rose and resolutions were adopted and
eulogies delivered upon the death of Senator
Pike, OF New Hampshire, and the House ad-
iourned.
MORE petitions were presented in the
Senate on the 23d for the passage over the Pres
idents veto OF the Dependent Pension bill.
After the committees reported the Senate con-
sidered bills on the calendar and at two o'clock
took up the Agricultural Department bill. An
amendment was adopted transferring the
weather service Of the signal service to the
new department and the bill passed. 1t creates
an executive department to be known as the
Department Of Agriculture and Labor, with a
Secretary and Assistant Secretary to be ap-
pointed by the President, by and with the ad-
vice and consent OF the Senate. The Secre-
tary is TO receive the same salary as the
heads of the other executive departments
The Bureau of Labor and the weather
service of the Signal Service Bureau are
to be transferred to the Department of Agri-
culturel. The bill granting arrears of pension
TO Thomas S. Hopkins. upon motion of Mr.. Frye.
who made statement of facts not known at the
time of the vote, was passed over the veto.
In the House Mr.. Belmont, from the Committee
on Foreign Affairs, reported the House substi
tute for the Senate Retaliation bill and under
the special order, asked for immediate con-
sideration. Debate was limited to two hours. al
the close of which the bill passed with only one
dissenting vote. The House then took up the
Senate amendment to the Post-office Appropria-
ton bill, but adjourned before reaching final
action.
THE Senate on the oath disagreed to the
House substitute for the Retaliation bill and
a conference was asked. The House bill to
extend the laws Of the United States over
certain territory south of Kansas was amended
and passed After passing several bridge bills
the Senate took up the Pleuro-Pneumonia bill
and pending consideration adjourned 80. In the
House the Senate amendments to the Mill
tary Academy Appropriation bill were agreed
to. The report of the Committee on Elec-
tions in the Indiana contested case of Kidd
against Steele confirming Steele in his seat,
was agreed to. The Senate amendments to
the Postoffice Appropriation bill were con-
CURED in except the subsidy amendment, which
was disagreed to. The Dependent Pension bill
and the Presidents veto then came up and de-
bate limited to four o'clock. at which time q
vote was taken and the veto was sustained.
the vote being 175 for the passage of the bill TO
125 against-not the necessary two-thirds in the
affirmative. Pending consideration of the Naval
bill the House adjourned.
THE Senate on the 25th elected Senator
Ingalls, as President of the Senate in place of
Mr.. Sherman resigned, Senator Van WycE
spoke in favor of his resolution for the election
OF Senators by the people. After unimportant
business the Senate took up the PleJT0-PleI,-
monia bill. Senator Edmunds' substitute ap-
81 S1.0OO.O00, to be expended under the
direction of the President of the United States
to aid the States in Euppressing cattle
diseases was adopted. The bill was
then laid aside and. the Pacific Rail
road Inquiry resolution taken up. Debate
continued until after midnight and the resolu-
tion, or bill. passed. 1t provides for the ap-
pointment OF three commissioners with com
pensation of $50 month, travelling expenses
and board bills, with power to examine all
books, papers and methods of the railroad COM
panies. -. In the House Mr.. Hatch moved to
suspend the rules and pass the Agricultural Ex
pertinent Station bill, which was agreed to.
The conference report on the Invalid Pension
bill was agreed TO. The House then went into
Committee of the Whole on the Naval Appro-
priation bill, and pending consideration, ad-
iOurned.